Planetary Orbits Lab
The NAAP Planetary Orbits Lab is designed to facilitate understanding of Kepler's Three Laws of Motion as well as how velocity and force relate to the orbits. The user can manipulate the orbital properties of a fictional planet and read off various orbital parameters. Our solar system's planets can also be observed as a background for comparison.
First time users of NAAP materials should read the NAAP Labs – General Overview page.
Details and resources for this lab – including demonstration guides, in-class worksheets, and technical documents – can be found on the instructor's page. Some resources are not available for all modules.
Planetary Orbit Simulator Student Guide (pdf)